Illinois COVID-19 Update

April 27, 2020

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 1,980 new COVID-19 cases and 50 deaths. The total number of cases in the state is 45,883 in 96 counties, with a total of 1,983 deaths. IDPH says that in the past 24 hours, 12,676 specimens have been processed.

At his daily press briefing, Governor J.B. Pritzker reviewed COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU cases and ventilators in use. As of yesterday, 4,672 people were hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 763 people were on ventilators.

The Governor also listed the top five counties in the state with COVID-19 cases (by infection rate): Cook, Jasper, Lake, Will and Randolph. He noted the COVID-19 is not a Chicago issue but a state issue.
IDPH has issued “Considerations for Healthcare Providers in Any Healthcare Setting.” The document provides information on how healthcare workers can “leave COVID-19 behind when you come home.”

IDPH’s weekly COVID-19 situational update call takes place Wed., April 29 at 11 a.m. Registration is required.

IDPH has issued a request for information (RFI) on setting and managing operations to drive the expansion of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for Illinois residents. Those who are interested in a potential public-private partnership with the state should submit an electronic response to this RFI to Vicki Wilson no later than Friday, May 1, 2020 at 5 p.m. Updates on the RFI will be published on the IDPH COVID-19 webpage.

Today, Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Allison Arwady, M.D., Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), announced the launch of ‘Chi COVID Coach,’ a mobile-friendly, web-based application to support residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This app was built in partnership with Google and MTX, and it will allow CDPH to communicate directly with Chicago residents who may be COVID-19 positive or experiencing symptoms, providing them important information and guidance.